Next month, Texas Governor and potential presidential candidate Rick Perry is hosting a prayer and fasting event, inviting government officials including all other Governors to join a stadium full of Christians in turning to God for help with the national economy. Yes, just Christians, an exclusion that has brought significant criticism, and now a legal challenge. The Freedom From Religion Foundation filed suit yesterday claiming the Governor's involvement in the event violates the Constitution. The Houston Chronicle reports:

The suit said that Perry's promotion of the rally violates "the Establishment Clause by giving the appearance that the government prefers evangelical Christian religious beliefs over other religious beliefs and non-beliefs …"

The suit also seeks to halt further publication of the proclamation, to declare the use of the official state seal of Texas unconstitutional, to order the governor to withdraw permission for the AFA to use his written and videotaped promotions and radio recordings, to remove links from the governor's web site, as well as enjoining Perry from issuing and disseminating additional Day of Prayer proclamations or designations.

A spokesman for the Governor says the August 6 event will "proceed as scheduled," at Houston's Relient Stadium. There's surely nothing wrong with a private religious organization renting out an available facility and hosting a large prayer rally for Christians. There's also nothing wrong with inviting the Governor to attend.
 
In this instance, though, Governor Perry seems to be in a leadership role, and seems not to be taking any steps to distance his role as the state's top official from his role as host of the Christian event. Do his appearance and the use of the state seal, etc., cross the line into an unconstitutional government activity? Maybe not (you can read the complaint for yourself here), but there are still steps that could and should be taken to make clear that this event is not mistaken for a state-sponsored Christian rally.